In The News

John Condron in the Joliet Herald
Posted on January 7, 2004 at 10:09:53 AM by read this article, mentions John

Johnny C. in L.A.
Published in the Herald News 12/28/03

Joliet teacher Mark Eleveld, editor of "The Spoken Word Revolution: Slam, Hip Hop, & the Poetry of a New Generation," recently enjoyed the L.A. release of his book.

The book is a compilation of current poetry featuring works written by morethan 40 of the most influential contemporary performance poets. Actor Viggo Mortensen, of "Lord of the Rings" fame, wrote the last section of the book, called "Youth Speaks." He has four books of poetry out.

At the end of November, Eleveld and local musician John Condron, who also runs the Chicago Street Bar and Grill, went to L.A. for the event. Condron provided all of the music for the show and even accompanied Viggo Mortensen while he read a couple of poems.

The book release was held at Beyond Baroque bookstore in Venice. Performers included Condron, Mortensen, Reggie Gibson, Patricia Smith, Saul Williams and Poet Laureate Marvin Bell, Eleveld said. He hosted the event. All of the money raised benefited a bookstore.

In addition to acting, Mortensen owns a publishing company, Perceval Press. Although they didn't do much publicizing of the event, Eleveld said tickets sold out in about a week. Finding a time for Mortensen — who's busy promoting the movies — to do the signing was another matter, though.

"In August, he said he had a two-day window in between going to South Africa and New Zealand for P.R., and he wanted to do it one of those two nights," Eleveld said. "Source Books out of Naperville was the main sponsor. It was a pretty big event. It was very cool, actually."

Very cool indeed! Good work, Mark and John!